Wednesday, March 04, 2009

Post Traumatic L Syndrome

Kittens, there is only one more. One. More. Uno, totally not dos. Yep, just one more ride on the crazy lesbo train that is “The L Word.” While it's hard to think of a world without the possibility of another smoking Tibette sex scene or another adorkable Alice moment or another charming Helana Britishism or another very Shane today ensemble or another “Baby girl!” Kit-clamation, it also feels like it's time. Or more like, it's been time for quite a while now. This season with all its inherent frustrations and illogical conclusions has shown us that good characters with talented actresses can only take you so far. A show lives and dies by its writing. And at this point the writing is floating belly up with Jenny in the pool.

But, fear not. There will be life after The L. In fact, that's a whole other L word. This doesn't have to mean we've seen the last of Jennifer, Laurel, Leisha, Kate, Mia, Pam and Rachel. Just ask all the escapees alumni who have gone on to full and vibrant lives away from the madness that Mama Chaiken wrought. Freedom looks good on them, no?

Sarah Shahi

Post-L: From one L word to another, the star of “Life” has traded her headphone in for a handgun.Verdict: Nothing is hotter than Carmen, but Carmen with cop arms? I'm sorry, I think I blacked out for a second.

Lauren Lee Smith

Post-L: From soup chef to “CSI,” she has gone from cooking to squinting.Verdict: For the hat alone, Lara Perkins' disposition and intent will always leave me wanting more.

Janina Gavankar

Post-L: From player to intern, with sadly (well, or gladly, depending on your tolerance for whiny doctors) only a split-second of screentime on “Grey's Anatomy.”Verdict: At least she didn't have to wear any silly hats on Grey's. Though I'm most excited about her upcoming stint on “Dollhouse.”

Erin Daniels

Post-L: From tennis star to a cop, a lawyer and a swinger (“CSI: NY,” “Saving Grace” and “Swingtown,” respectively.Verdict: A+ for variety, at the very least. Though, yet another reason it's time for TLW to take its bow. Mama C made this kind of goodness stop three seasons too early.

I am sad to see what Mama Chaiken has done to TLW. What she did right was her casting of the characters. With an exception or two, her casting was brilliant. Every Sunday night for 6 years, it was my guilty pleasure, many times just a pleasure. I fear nothing will take its place. The networks along w/the cable stations seem to want to stay away from this topic only inserting lesbians into marginal or incidental roles.

Has a straight woman ever taken to her lesbian role with more gusto and fearlessness than Ms. Beals?God, I will miss her intelligence, heart and arms, shoulders and back!!! I thank the deities that she is a bit OCD in training for Olympic triathlons. ;-)

And no one says"fuck" better than Beals as Bette.

Then, an icon as a welder/dancer. Now, an icon as a lesbian art curator.

As much as I wanted season snark before it happened, at this time, I'm seeing it as a 'be careful what you wish for' situation.

Rather than going out on a high (brownies optional), the show's a more depressing morass than it's been, with the exception of season 3. But season 3 had more consistency of storylines, which means season snark is so bad it has me saying nice things about season 3.

This is bumming me out...and not because the show's going away. Where's the brownies?

It's such a shame to see, feel and taste what could have been. To stand by silently, helplessly crying as the L WORLD crumbles so miserably, misshapen, misused, mistreated, so damaged. A light in the dark night that should have made us all proud, but; instead screams to be put out of it's and our misery.

mmmmm...Sarah Shahi...mmmmm I love her on "Life" and as much as it grosses me out, I get why her character is involved with the boss (totally about the low self-esteem that comes with addiction). Erin Daniels on Saving Grace...awesome... and Swingtown...CRISPAY!

It's going to be harder than I want to admit. One might think the characters' brain transplants and overall crappy, devolving plotlines would make it easier to say goodbye, but no, it doesn't. I hope IC leaves us a shred of good feeling after next Sunday's finale.

I'm already going through the steps of grieving on this one, though I get the feeling I'm stalled on anger. Anger at Mama C, though, than for the show going away. Anger that they had to drag it out for one more season, especially one that's turned out to be such a shit show. Regardless, there are certainly aspects I'll miss, one of which will be the anticipation of Sundays, waiting to see who underwent a personality switch up this week.

Through the good and bad (mostly bad), this show's been around long enough to leave its mark and a hole once it's over. After all, 6 yrs is a long time. But, in the end, I totally agree with you. It's definitely time.

I will miss these characters so much, but it's painful to watch this season. Like someone else said, the crap-factor reminds me of Season 3. I wonder what the inside story is for the really lousy writing. I recall season 1 being so creative.